One must
wonder what Kriseman has promised all these “contacts” for their generous contributions.

The project
has not been without opposition. The Waterfront Parks Association has expressed
its opposition stating "(a project), of this scope on designated waterfront
parkland is inconsistent with the great vision of our city’s Founding Fathers
... when they purchased and mandated a downtown waterfront primarily reserved
for green space.”

The problems
with this effort are legion beginning with the Parks Foundation statement and
continuing on through who will be responsible for the cost of maintaining this
massive aerial display.

It is one
thing to raise a million dollars or so to go along with the City “art” funds to
get this thing in place but where will the funds come from to pay for its upkeep
every time the Echelman team has to fly back
into St. Pete to fix the latest disaster with the light bag?

Then there is
the cost of putting up and taking it down.

Without a doubt,
there are wind and weather conditions when it is not safe to have this thing
up. What City Department will be charged with the responsibility to launch and
retrieve the “floating art sculpture”?

Where the
money come from to keep a group of people trained to handle this massive piece
of “art?”

What happens
when one of those sudden storms comes up? Lights, sirens racing to Spa Beach to
save the Bag?

This adds yet
another expensive and time-consuming issue to getting ready for a hurricane as
the light bag will have to put away.

Maybe our anonymous
“contacts” would like to pick up the tab for that expense.

Kriseman is
still trying to work out a positive legacy for his time as mayor and this mesh
of lights dangling over Spa Beach in front of the Vinoy is just the latest
attempt.

Too late
Rick, your legacy is already set: A Pier no one wanted and a sewer system that
still won’t be fixed when you leave office.